New Zealand

New Zealand is a country of two large islands (called the North and South Islands) and many much smaller islands in the south-western Pacific Ocean. New Zealand is called Aotearoa in Māori, and is directly translated as the Land of the Long White Cloud.
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. It is famous for its beautiful views, the Museum of New Zealand, the Cable Car and the oldest zoo in the country.

National symbols of New Zealand
The flag of New Zealand
New Zealand is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The Queen of Great Britain is the head of New Zealand.
Dame Patricia Lee Reddy is the Governor-General of New Zealand.
The coat of arms of
New Zealand

Unofficial emblems
Kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand. They live only in NZ. There are five species of kiwi.
Kowhai is the national flower. All parts of this plant is poisonous.
Silver fern is a national plant. It is used in medicine.

Popular landmarks
Moeraki Boulders (Валуны Моераки)
Craters of the Moon Geothermal Walk
The Sky Tower is the tallest of its
kind in the Southern Hemisphere
One Tree Hill is a volcanic peak.
Volcanic landscape
of Tongariro Crossing
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu
in Hawkes Bay is the place with the longest name in the world.

Famous people
Russell Crowe is an actor, film
producer, director and musician.
Peter Jackson is a best known as the director, writer, and producer of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Hobbit trilogy.
Keith Urban is a country music musician, songwriter, guitarist, and television music competition judge.

Katherine Mansfield was a
prominent modernist writer.
She wrote short stories
and poetry.
Ernest Rutherford was a physicist
and chemist who became known
as the father of nuclear physics.
Edmund Hillary was a mountaineer who along with Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953.

Celebrations
A lot of holidays and festivities are celebrated in the country. These include arts , music and film festivals, as well as traditional celebrations like Easter and Christmas. Some of these special days are also public holidays.
Waitangi is a national holiday celebrated on February 6. Originally, it was a date when New Zealand became a British colony (1810). A three-day festival with dances, music, food and traditional Maori rituals also takes place.
International Arts Festival is celebrated once in two years and continues for a month.
The Biennial Wellington Jazz Festival, the International Comedy Festival and many others gather thousands of tourists annually.

Anzac Day is a national holiday. People remember all of the New Zealanders who have served and died in any wars or conflicts.
The Pasifika Festival in Auckland brings together visitors from all over the world.
Matariki (the Pleiades) signals the Māori New Year. Traditionally, it was a time for remembering the dead, and celebrating new life. In the 21st century Matariki has become popular again. Heaven-bound kites, hot-air balloons and fireworks help mark the occasion.

To become married you need to be at least 20 years old.
The most popular sport here is rugby. The state’s rugby team is called All Blacks.
Local people make tattoos not only on their body but also on the face.
New Zealand has three official languages – English, Maori, and sign language. The Maori greeting is touching each other with nose tips.
New Zealanders eat much butter and meat. Lamb is a favourite meal. Tea is the most popular drink.
Interesting traditions in New Zealand